The world's most influential women

She might be the most powerful celebrity in the world, but talk show host Oprah Winfrey lost out to Mother Teresa (who got 25 per cent of the votes and bagged the third spot) and Britain's Queen Elizabeth (who got 24 per cent of the vote and bagged the fourth spot).

Winfrey, with 14 per cent of the votes, found herself at the fifth spot.

The world's most influential women

"It's clear from the research that qualities such as intelligence and independence are highly regarded when it comes to women's perceptions of well-being, while women promoted solely on the basis of appearance are largely disregarded by a nation who want to see their role models do something with their lives," said Beverley Skeggs, a sociologist at Goldsmiths College, London.